Hugh Herr, director of biomechatronics at MIT, built the leg for her. Herr himself is a double amputee from a climbing accident, and gave a TED talk before Davis took the stage. Herr decided to build a bionic leg for Adrianne when he met her during her recovery at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, according to Alexandria Kahn, an MIT spokesperson. He wanted Davis to be able to get back to what she loved doing.